Red Tree Bay Pier, one of Yun Port City’s primary cargo terminals, was truly massive.
A single glance revealed endless rows of warehouses and depots. Their towering walls were painted with the logos and serial numbers of various trading companies, used to store mountains of cargo.
A few brick-and-stone office buildings and simple workers’ dormitories were dotted among them.
Long jetties stretched out into the river, allowing steamships, sailboats, and even simple wooden boats of all sizes to dock for loading and unloading.
A bustling commercial district had naturally formed near the pier. All manner of shops, restaurants, teahouses, and inns lined the streets, providing for the daily needs of the boatmen, merchants, and laborers who came and went.
Even late at night, the area was abuzz with activity and full of life.
In the distance, a railway spur and paved roads could be seen winding their way to connect with Red Tree Bay Pier, forming a highly practical logistics and transit system.
Just then, a black Ford sedan slowly approached the guard post at the pier’s entrance.
On duty were a dozen or so security guards in matching dark-blue uniforms. They had Mauser C96 pistols holstered at their waists and sharp, vigilant expressions. They were all members of the Lu Family Trading Company’s security detail.
The captain in charge spotted the car from a distance and immediately recognized Yan Lintong in the passenger seat. A smile instantly spread across his face as he hurried forward to greet them.
Yan Lintong leaned out from the passenger seat and offered a familiar greeting. "Well, if it isn’t Captain Chen on duty!"
The man known as "Captain Chen" quickly straightened his back, saluted Yan Lintong, and called out, "Mr. Yan! You’re here!"
But Yan Lintong had no time for pleasantries. He waved a hand dismissively. "Enough chatter. Open the gate! I have urgent business!"
"Yes, sir! Right away!"
Captain Chen dared not delay. He quickly signaled his men to raise the barrier blocking the road and clear a path.
The car drove unimpeded into the pier area, passing through the bustling freight yards and streams of people before finally stopping on a relatively open, gravel-covered clearing.
Aside from the Lu Family’s own section, many other vehicles belonging to other trading companies and corporations were parked here. They were clearly all partners who used Red Tree Bay Pier for cargo transit.
Once the car was parked, Lu Yun pushed the door open and stepped out.
A river breeze, carrying moisture and the faint smell of fish, washed over him. In the distance, boats crisscrossed the river’s surface like shuttles on a loom, their steam whistles echoing long and melodically.
Faced with this familiar scene, Lu Yun fell silent for a moment. He quietly took an exquisite metal cigarette case from the pocket of his fine, black tunic.
It opened with a soft CLICK. Lu Yun took out a "Daxia Brand" cigarette and placed it between his lips.
Then, as if remembering something, he glanced at Yan Lintong, who was standing respectfully to the side. "Lintong," he asked casually, "care for one?"
"Thank you, Master!!!"
Yan Lintong reacted as if he had received a divine blessing, his voice trembling with excitement.
He quickly bowed, extended both hands, and carefully accepted the cigarette.
’This isn’t just a cigarette,’ he thought. ’It’s a sign of Master’s approval!’
After accepting the cigarette, Yan Lintong didn’t immediately light it for himself. Instead, he quickly pulled a shiny, stylish lighter from his pocket.
It was an import, supposedly a new model from Great Britain.
With a FWOOSH, he sparked a flame. Cupping it with both hands, he respectfully held it out for Lu Yun, his voice filled with irrepressible excitement and nervousness. "Master, after you. Be careful."
’To be able to light Master’s cigarette,’ Yan Lintong thought, ’is the greatest honor imaginable!’
Lu Yun lit his cigarette from the offered flame, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled a plume of blue-white smoke.
Only then did Yan Lintong carefully light his own cigarette and take a long, satisfying drag.
Near a stack of cargo on the pier, a few workers paused in their labor.
"Uncle Liang, quick, look over there!"
One of the younger men nudged an older worker beside him with his elbow. He lowered his voice, his face a mask of astonishment, and pointed toward the distant parking area.
"Who’s that old man? What a big shot! He actually has Captain Yan lighting his cigarette for him! And... and looking so deferential?"
The young man had a sharp eye; he had immediately recognized Yan Lintong, the Captain of the Lu Family Trading Company’s security detail.
The older worker beside him, his skin dark and his face weathered by the elements, followed his gaze.
At first he was stunned, but then his eyes shot wide open. He smacked the young man on the back of the head, his voice cracking with excitement.
"Xiao Hong, show some respect! That’s the father of our Lu Family Trading Company’s chairman! He’s the founding patriarch of our company, Lord Lu!"
"What? Lord Lu?!" The young man gasped, nearly biting his tongue. "Is... is that really him? Why would he come to the pier?"
"Of course it’s him! Lord Lu built this pier with his own two hands back in the day. What’s so strange about him visiting?"
The old worker paused, his gaze fixed on Lu Yun with an expression of pure reverence, as if he were witnessing a miracle.
"His Lordship is a Former Martial Scholar and held the official rank of Assistant General of the River Patrol! His martial arts are legendary! I can’t believe I’m seeing him again in my lifetime..."
His words resonated with the other old-timers nearby. They all stopped their work and looked over, their eyes filled with a mixture of heartfelt reverence and adoration.
In the hearts of these old workers and veterans of the Lu Family Trading Company, Lord Lu was truly a god-like figure.
This reverence wasn’t just due to his wealth and power. It was because Lord Lu... was a truly good man.
Almost no one who ever worked at the Lu Family Pier or for the trading company was willing to leave.
Why?
Because the pay was good, they were treated fairly, and there was no abuse. The wages were more generous than anywhere else, and on holidays, they received bonuses of rice, flour, and oil, or even cash-filled red envelopes.
The foremen could be strict, but they would never beat or curse a worker without cause.
Most importantly, the Lu Family never delayed paying wages! If they said you’d be paid on a certain day, you were paid on that day, down to the last cent.
In this chaotic era of constant war and rampant gangs, one had to understand the plight of most common laborers.
Being exploited and having their wages skimmed was just a part of daily life.
The logic of those other bosses was, "You’re already getting work, what more do you want? You can’t have it all, can you?"
In stark contrast, the Lu Family’s patriarch, Lu Yun, was like a living Bodhisattva who had descended to the mortal realm! He was a rare beacon of hope in a dark world!
As a result, "working at the Lu Family Pier" became the dream job for all the common folk of Yun Port City.
It was an "iron rice bowl"—a job so secure it could be passed down for three generations.
If a family had someone working at the Lu Family Pier, they could hold their heads up high among their neighbors!
Therefore, the Lu Family’s workforce was incredibly loyal, with extremely low turnover. Almost no one ever chose to leave.
Now, seeing Lord Lu visiting the pier in person, how could these old workers not be overcome with emotion?
Lu Yun felt the gazes from the distance, but he paid them no mind. He just quietly smoked his cigarette, his eyes fixed on the boats passing on the river.

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